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Yogi Berra
Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, 1972
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 122 of 1252 players
Lawrence Peter Berra
Born: May 12, 1925 at St. Louis, Mo.
Died: September 22, 2015 at West Caldwell, N.J. Obituary
Throws: Right Bats: Left
Height: 5.08 Weight: 195

Yogi Berra has been the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup 15 times, most recently on April 27, 2024.

Non-playing roles with Mets Manager 1972 - 1975 Coach 1965 - 1971

First Mets game: May 1, 1965
Last Mets game: May 9, 1965

Father of Dale Berra
Father of Lawrence Berra

Share your memories of Yogi Berra HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY: Richard S. One day in the mid-1970's, some streakers ran onto the field. When asked if they were male or female, Yogi replied: "I don't know. They were wearing bags on their heads." Coach HoJo 20 March 31, 2001 Really made his mark in the majors when he became a Met. Ernie May 15, 2001 Yogi coined one of his most famous phrases while managing the Mets in 1973. "It Ain't over till its over". I'm still trying to figure out why he put Willie Mays in Center and Don Hahn in Right instead of the reverse late in game 2 of the 1973 World Series. Ernie. Joe Figliola July 20, 2001 I once had a lot of respect for Yogi Berra. Here was a man, one of the most respected figures of the game, who vowed never to set foot in Yankee Stadium or take part in any Yankee-related affairs after George Steinbrenner dumped him 16 games into the 1985 season. Then along came that fat toad and Yankee groupie Suzyn Waldman, who convinced Yogi that Boss George wasn't so bad and played Henry Kissinger in this version of the Vietnam peace talks. And Yogi fell for it. Yogi could've really made a statement had he continued his boycott. Instead, he sold out. Sad. Jim Snedeker November 20, 2001 As a Met manager, Yogi was a good guy and very special baseball person. I remember in 1972, after taking over for the late Gil Hodges, he got the Mets going with a 30-10 start. But then they suffered an incredible run of injuries and finished in their familiar third position. And Yogi took the brunt of blame from an unfair press. When he explained that the team's tailspin was due to the injuries, the sportswriters didn't want to hear it. Then, in the waning days of August 1973, with the Mets looking to complete another mediocre season, he faced them in a clubhouse meeting and said, "You guys stink." That, combined with Tug McGraw's "Ya Gotta Believe!" cry, lit the fire that got them to the Series. P.S. Did anyone ever really get used to seeing him in that goofy Houston Astro uniform? harvey January 28, 2002 i remember yogi had 2 hits in his first game as a met,but they lost. rich January 31, 2002 Yogi always managed scared. Members of the '73 team have commented that he should have started George Stone in the 6th game of the WS and saved Seaver for Game 7....Yogi was afraid of getting criticized. Larry Burns June 13, 2002 His really stupid public persona hides the fact that he was a pretty decent manager. He got the Mets to the 1973 World Series. I had tremendous respect for him after he had been shafted by George Steinbrenner and he stated he would never go back to Yankee Stadium. He was the one guy whose dignity was not for sale to George's millions. Unfortunately he gave in and went back. What a disappointment. Richard Kissel September 14, 2002 I explain to my friends and clients in Europe that Yogi Berra is a great American philosopher. Yogi is a good natured guy. Everything he touches turns to gold. He was a great catcher with the hated Yankees and came to Shea when the Yanks booted him out after winning the 1964 pennant. He stayed here and coached for Gil Hodges in the great year of 1969. He became manager a few days after Gil's death. Yogi's statements about Gil in his Hall of Fame induction were very touching. How can you not love Yogi Berra? Charlie December 27, 2002 Q: What's the difference between Gil Hodges and Yogi Berra? A: 6 innings. In the 3rd, Hodges was thinking about what he was going to to do in the 6th. In the 6th, Yogi was thinking about what he should have done in the 3rd. Joanna Semsey January 21, 2003 I think the guy is a total jerk! I had gone to a Jackals game with my dad, brother, and sister. Before the game started we went to the Yogi Berra museum next to the stadium. Just before we left the museum we saw Yogi Berra inside. He was by himself. So my brother and sister went up to him to ask for an autograph. And you know what he said to them? He didn't just say no. He said, "I'm not signing autographs tonight." Now come on. My brother and sister are 12 and 9, respectively, and this happened a couple of years ago. The least you can do is sign a piece of paper. It only takes a few seconds. Instead he acted like a jerk. We've never forgiven him for that, either. Jonah Falcon March 14, 2003 Do you know how many collectors pose as a family to get an autograph from baseball legends just to make a buck off the autograph? Sometimes they'll have kids asking players for autographs in a hotel at 3am! Berra is not a jerk - maybe you should've TALKED to him for a while before crassly asking for an autograph right up front. When you do that, it makes someone like him feel like some sort of autograph dispenser, that that is all he is good for. Joe Figliola March 28, 2003 Now hold on, Jonah, did you ever think that Joanna was NOT seeking an autograph for profit? There are many of those out there, you know; perhaps Mr. Berra was in a rude mood--maybe he has a history of doing this in the past. Did you ever stop to think that maybe Yogi won't sign unless he himself was PAID to sign?! There are two sides to every story. Anyway, I'm still mad at Berra for not sticking to his guns and letting that cow Suzyn Waldman talk him into making nice with Fat George. PSR March 31, 2003 Yogi will always be among the most loveable people in baseball history but I will never be able to forgive him for not pitching George Stone in game six and Seaver in game seven in the 1973 World Series. mets May 30, 2003 A tremendous clutch hitter and a good defensive catcher. As manager with the Mets he was able to ride Seaver, Koosman, Matlack and McGraw into the World Series in 1973. The Mets might have won the Series had Berra used George Stone in Game Six of the Series. Instead he went with Seaver on short rest for the kill in Game Six. Seaver would have had four days rest for Game Seven. On the other hand only Berra would have an 83-79 team in the World Series at all. His Yogisms are classic. The best one I ever heard was when he allegedly ordered a Piazza. The clerk said "do you want six or eight slices? " Berra said "make it six, I couldn't eat eight." Phil Thiegou October 10, 2003 I noticed that Yogi was noticably absent at the 30th anniversary ceremony for the '73 team. I bet Steinbrenner had something to do with it. Tug McGraw was there and he was 5 months removed from being at death's door. Yogi is fit as a fiddle and was nowhere to be found. Kiwiwriter June 28, 2004 Didn't know he missed the 30th anniversary event for the 1973 Mets. I do know he made a Mets-Yankees game at Shea when he was boycotting Yankee Stadium, to throw out the first pitch as a former Met manager. That probably irritated Steinbrenner no end. Yes, he should have pitched George Stone in Game 6 of the 1973 World Series. The Mets would have won it all. But Yogi regularly got beaten up by his owners as a manager. Look what happened to him across town in 1964 and 1985. Interestingly, he says in one of his books that the reason he was upset over the 1985 firing was because King George III wouldn't do it to his face...that was cowardly and insulting. "I've been fired before," Yogi said phlegmatically. When you fire a three-time MVP, 10-time World Series champion, two-time pennant-winning manager, and Hall of Famer, you do it to his face. Period. Jonathan Stern September 8, 2004 I'm proud that Yogi was a Met. Maybe he should have started Stone in the '73 series, but the Mets were not hitting anyway. Yogi was not, never has been, nor never will be a goat. The real goat of 1973 was Charlie Finley, for destroying Mike Andrews and ruining his own team's World Championship. Yogi was portrayed in Dick Shaap's 1969 book, "The Year the Mets Lost Last Place" as still having his heart with the Yankees. Well, how would you feel if you wore a team's uniform so proudly and successfully as a player, then led that same team to Game 7 of a World Series, only to be fired anyway? The book also described Yogi as not being nearly as witty or charming as popular myth suggests. So what? He's Yogi, he is an American treasure, he epitomizes so much that is good about the game. Unless you are a grizzled, cynical sportswriter looking for quotes, he is beyond criticism, period. And his Yogisms ("A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.") crack me up every time. Nothing can top his recent commercial with the Afflack duck. Thank you, Yogi, for making this entry necessary. Mike J February 21, 2005 A great, great player who was thoroughly outcoached in the 1973 Series. The A's were more talented, but a more competent skipper could have brought the Mets home that season. Mitch45 April 12, 2006 Yoge was a Met for both the '69 (as a coach for Gil) and '73 seasons. Yogi took a '73 club that could pitch but not hit to within a single game of a world championship, against a vastly superior A's club then at the height of its dynasty. If not for the arrogant Seaver convincing him to let him start Game 6 in Oakland, the Mets might have wrapped it up right there. But he still did an outstanding job that year. Yogi deserves a spot of honor in the Mets pantheon of heroes. BobR April 19, 2006 Mitch45, you are so right about Yogi! That '73 Met team really had no business playing in the World Series, but they beat a terrific Reds team in the playoffs and took the A's to the limit. Yogi got fired by the Yankees after he lost the '64 World Series to St. Louis in seven games (just like they fired Casey for losing the '60 Series in seven), so he TWICE managed teams to the brink of World Series titles. I know that Casey considered Yogi to be his key player on all those Yankee championships. Here's to you, Yogi! JFK November 8, 2006 Regarding the 73 WS--I heard that it was Tom Seaver that badgered Berra into starting him in game 6-- Seaver wanted to be able to say he won the final game of the series. Still--Berra should have had some backbone and told Seaver you pitch in game 7 just in case Stone does not win game 6. Imagine having a Hall of Fame pitcher in his prime on full rest to pitch in game 7 as your back-up plan---an absolute no-brainer. Joe Santoro October 1, 2008 With regards to game 6 of the 1973 World Series, I don't think a rested George Stone would have stopped Reggie Jackson. Even Matlack couldn't stop Jackson in game 7. You have to go with your two best pitchers for game 6 and 7. Seaver and Matlack were their two best pitchers. Yogi went for the kill. It just wasn't in the cards! The A's were just a better team. My hats off to Yogi Berra and Rube Walker. It was the right move. feat fan October 17, 2008 From the memory motel: I was 10 sitting in front of the TV with my make-shift scorecard. Mets vs Phillies, Spahn vs Bunning. This was on Willie May's 34th birthday as Ralph had pointed out. I recall a 1-0 battle and Berra's at bat during the game. I am not sure if he started. Good theater, 3 future Hall of Famers right there! CJ October 29, 2008 I was so happy to see Yogi at the last Shea game as well as the last game at Yankee Stadium! Doctor Worm May 19, 2009 Yogi played four games for the Mets in 1965 after having been a nonplaying manager for the Yankees the prior year. I wonder if that had ever happened before. I am quite sure it has not happened since. Vince the pock November 30, 2009 My all-time favorite Yankee and I hate the Yankees. I, like many of the people who have commented on the 1973 World Series, feel that Berra made a huge mistake by pitching Seaver in Game Six. I felt that way at the time of the announcement and I still feel this way today. The fact that Dick Williams has publicly stated that his team would have lost to a rested Seaver in Game Seven only makes it feel worse. Both Tug McGraw and Cleon Jones have said as well that Stone should have pitched in Game Six only underscores this point. A World Series victory in 1973 would have been as exciting and as improbable as the 1969 Series win was. When we look back on all the disappointments that this franchise has visited on its fans I feel as though the Gods of Baseball are making us all pay for the greatness of '69 and '86. The question is: How much longer must we pay? Michael December 10, 2009 If fairness to Yogi, I have read that Seaver talked his way to pitching Game 6 by going over his head and talking to Mets management. If that were the case, then Yogi should have told the Mets brass to stick it. Surely they weren't going to fire him during the WS. Still Disappointed in Brooklyn After 40 April 28, 2014 His English was bad enough,but his inability to comprehend logic: if Seaver on 5-days rest couldn't beat Catfish Hunter in Game 3 at Shea, how do the Mets chances improve in a G6 rematch in Oakland? And in the likely event they don't, what are the chances a young and overworked Matlack beats the more experienced and well-rested Ken Holtzman in G7? There are counterarguments, and true the Mets lineup was pathetic, but given the result Yogi doesn't get the benefit of the doubt. Shickhaus Franks March 15, 2014 My deepest condolences to Yogi for your recent loss of your wife Carmen. FYI, he's one of the few Yankees I like (besides Torre, Randolph and Stengel). One of four men to manage both the Mets and Yankees: (The others Torre, Stengel and Dallas Green). When I started following the Mets as a kid in the mid 70's he was their manager in their "Ya Gotta Believe" season of 1973. I'll never forget that he was the face of Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink for years (Thinking about it makes me gonna run out to the store to get some). He was the ultimate peacemaker as well: He led Rusty Staub, Willie Mays, and Tom Seaver to calm the fans after they bombarded Pete Rose with garbage after his now famous dust-up with Buddy Harrelson in the '73 NLCS at Shea and he also prevented Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson from killing each other (Elston Howard assisted as well) during their dugout rhubarb at Fenway Park on June 18, 1977 which was also the day of the Reds debut of Tom Seaver as well. john mccarthy August 1, 2014 Second- guessing is always the way people who have never had to make 'the' decision live. Seaver on three days is better than Stone on two weeks rest! The guy was a Hall of Famer who pleaded for the ball. Berra wasn't weak because he gave in to Seaver. He was a player-first manager who trusted his guys. The Mets were mediocre in '73 and they got to one game away from the championship. Where were the second-guessing Met loyalists when they beat the Big Red Machine? Not much to say guys? SHUT UP! Yogi is one of the most decent individuals anyone would ever want to meet. BTW, I've seen Yogi sign 400 baseballs in one day. He may not have signed something at the museum because his sons held the rights to anything with his name on it and he respected their business. Typical Mets fans...blah, blah, blah Gets by Buckner September 25, 2015 R.I.P Yogi!! Thanks for the memories of that amazing 1973 team beating the Big Red Machine and getting to game 7 in the World Series against the A's!!! You will be missed!!! Dave Shaw September 25, 2015 This is going back a bit, but does anybody remember Yogi doing Yoo-Hoo commercials on Channel 9 in the mid-1960's? RIP. He took a part of our past with him. RobPhilll September 25, 2015 The ultimate Mr. New York Baseball. Equally a treasure for both the Yankees and the Mets. Yogi played for both clubs. Coached for both clubs. Managed and won pennants for both clubs. They talk about records, Yogi's World Series records would be hard to attain by today's standards. 10 World series rings more than most Major League clubs. It's sadly OVER! Joe Santoro September 25, 2015 He was a genuine role model. A very rare thing these days. The nicest man I have ever met. I will always remember 1973, and the bowling alley in Clifton. When I get to heaven, I will live my life long dream, and that is to play baseball with him. But for now, I will miss him terribly. Shickhaus Franks October 4, 2015 A true New York baseball legend, he will be missed. He also served our country in World War 2 in the Navy and was at D-Day on June 6, 1944 and his quote about that day was this: "It was like Opening Day, a lot of yelling and screaming". Besides his ads for Yoo-Hoo and Miller Lite, he hit a big time tv commercial home run a few years back in a very funny AFLAC ad in the barber shop where his quote "They give you cash, which is just as good as money" which befuddled the wacky AFLAC duck! Raymond September 2, 2016 The Mets should have fired Yogi Berra when the 1975 baseball season ended. Joe Santoro March 27, 2019 Mitch: You mentioned Yogi bought a team that could pitch and could not hit to the 7th game of the World Series. I disagree with only one part. The Mets could hit. You forget they had many injuries for the majority of the season. When they finally got healthy they hit their way to post season. And the fact is, they out hit the A's 66-51. They out averaged them .253-.211 So why did they lose? Defense, the most overlooked ingredient. 10 errors. The big ones were in game 1 Felix Millan's and Jon Matlack over thrown pick off. Grote's passed ball in game 3, and that doesn't count as an error. But it cost them game 3 even though Seaver pitched a gem. Alex November 1, 2023 I've read Berra's book, "When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It." As I recall, it was an enjoyable read and would recommend it. In the Mets Hall of Fame project I run on another website, we elected Berra as both a manager and a coach. Support for his case as a coach was stronger than his case as skipper—he was elected as a coach on his second try with 90% of the vote, but it took until his fifth try to be elected as manager (but he still earned 88.89% of the vote). NYB Buff September 10, 2024 Yogi is known primarily for his unique philosophical quotes. Unfortunately, these comments undermine his extremely successful baseball career. Berra accumulated ten World Series rings as a player and three more as a coaching staff member. He collected 2,150 hits and 1,430 RBIs over nineteen major league seasons. Yogi also won the American League MVP award three times. Still, it's his personality that stands out in the public eye. I think all of us say things in Yogi style without realizing it at one time or another. It can be very easy to do. Here is a primary example: "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave." This isn't a phrase that was ever attributed to Berra. It comes from the Bible. In the Gospel of Mark (Chapter 6, Verse 10), the disciples are given instruction by these words. Even Jesus Christ himself said something in the form of a Yogi-ism!

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